The Video!

What have I done?

I just signed up to be a part of NaBloPoMo, which means I am going to attempt to post every day for the month of November. I will try to find time to say something moderately meaningful, witty, or entertaining, but given my track record since beginning school again, you may get a lot of nubbins.

I am working on uploading the video of the belly dance show last night. The video is huger than YouTube will take, so I'm going to have to shrink it. However, my computer has a distorted sense of time, so "15 minutes remaining" really means it will keep going past my bedtime. We'll see if it gets done before I am.

In other news, today was a shitty day. It started when I had to get up 2 hours earlier than normal because Housing was doing mold work in our attics, but it really took a turn for the worse when I was eating my breakfast. I was raising my glass to my lips to take my first sip of milk when I saw a huge bug walking along the rim. VOM! These fake stinkbugs invade this time of year, but this was really just too much. I usually try to release the bugs (in case they stink. Go evolution.), but I had to squish this little fucker, along with his cousin I saw immediately after on the wall. I poured the milk into a different glass, but that didn't really help too much.

From there, the day only got better. Even though I did actually go take a nap in my car, I was tired all day, missing the anticipation a performance brings, got back a test I knew I didn't do well on (and had my fears confirmed), didn't pack enough food so I was hungry and tired, which any of those dear to me will recognize as huge red flags for crying. Which I did as I walked home in the cold. Oh well. I have so many days where I'm happy, that a few downer ones aren't so bad. At least we didn't give out candy to hoodlums (or anyone) this year!

See you again tomorrow! (and the day after, and the day after...)

Too Early

It's 8:30 AM and I'm at the library because they are doing mold things to our apartment. What in the world am I supposed to do until 10:30, when I actually have something to do? I'd much rather be sleeping. Maybe I'll go find a quiet corner and lie down. Or go to our car and take a nap.

Belly dancing last night went really well. We had SO much fun and people seemed to really like it. I was uploading the video this morning when I had to leave (stupid mold), so I'll try to get it out later tonight.

Good night!

Fires are scary

In the past week, not only have the Southern California fires been all over the news, but we also had a large apartment fire in town two days ago that has displaced 50-60 people, mostly college students like myself (not to mention the tragic fire in North Carolina that killed 7 students today). These have gotten me thinking about what I would do in the same situation (at least as the students in the local fire). What would I save? After thinking about it, luckily only a few things really stood out: Our wedding negatives, my photo boxes/scrapbooks, important papers. Pretty much everything else would be at least somewhat replaceable. I wouldn't cry over losing any of our furniture (except my grandparents' cedar chest that Peter beautifully refinished, but there would be no way in hell to get that out in a hurry), all of our belongings could be replaced, and all of my computer stuff is backed up on the internet (which hopefully is safe). However, we are young. I can't imagine the same process with a house full of cherished belongings and family heirlooms, such as what you inevitably accumulate over time. Let's pray we never have ti know that heartbreak.

Events

Ladies and germs, if you are in Boulder and have no plans this Tuesday night, head over to the UMC for the GSA's drag show, wherein Aous and I will be belly dancing. Fun times will be had by all! (Mature rating, costumes welcome). The festivities begin at 8 PM, and we will be towards the very end.

Winter Weather

Smells like cow shit. Gonna be cold tomorrow.

Thoughts on a Sunday Night

Tomorrow the rush begins. What am I thinking in these last few moments of my own?

I love my husband very much. I feel like we really reconnected over the weekend, just by spending time together (and having that time to spend to begin with) and making each other a priority. He is wonderful and my everything.

I can't wait until I no longer have 12 hour days. The worst of it is that I don't feel like I get anything done in those long hours. I'm in class or at a job, which cuts out time for studying, homework, or those million little tasks that need to be done during business hours (or while I have energy). Only two more years...

Somehow, we got Disc 4 of Dexter before we got Disc 3. This made me unaccountably sad every time this weekend I thought about sitting down to watch it with my snuggly husband, only to realize that we couldn't because nothing would make sense. I can't wait to get Disc 3 on Tuesday.

I would very much like the Buffs to win their next home game. Yes, it was very exciting at the end, but it would been much more exciting to actually win. I love you Buffs, please don't let me down. I really want to be there for a victory.

The Internet is evil. Sure, I know a lot of random, useless shit now, like that the Amber Room was built in the 1700s by the King of Prussia, taken by Russia, then taken by the Nazis and has since disappeared, but is this important? More important than my upcoming midterm? I think not.

Speaking of the evil of the Internet:
I saw a funny spoof of "Glengarry Glen Ross" on YouTube today. Peter and I watched that movie a couple years ago and thought it really didn't live up to the hype (you think nothing happens in some movies? Nothing *really* happens here!). But after watching this spoof, we were both like, "Were all those actors really in that movie?" I think we were early in our Netflix career at that point, and so only recognized a few of them. I know I didn't know Alan Arkin then because I had not seen the wonderfulamazingwonderfulness that is Little Miss Sunshine then, so I was not in love with Grandpa. But now I am. Maybe we should rewatch Glengarry Glenn Ross? Watch the preview, and let me know what you think:

First Snow

First snow of the year, it even stuck for a little bit, but nothing like the inches other parts of Colorado got (thank goodness). One of my new friends in the program is from Oregon and she is beside herself at the thought of snow and can't wait for it to start. Another friend is from Saudi and *hates* the snow. I have to say, I'm not keen on it starting, but there is something magical about walking along in the hush of a softly falling snow. Mainly, I get really cold in winter and the only way for me to warm up is to take a hot bath or to drink some hot chocolate (mostly the bath, though). I live in blankets and fleece at home and down jackets when I'm away (even when I'm sitting in class). Thank God for down blankets and snuggling; they make this season bearable!

World Series Fever

The Rox are going to the World Series! Old news, I know, but still exciting for the people here who are still just figuring out that we have a baseball team (myself included). I flirted briefly with trying to buy tickets for the World Series, as most of my friends are, but it really wouldn't be worth it, since Peter's not exactly the world's biggest sports fan and I brought a book to my last baseball game. So I think instead I will watch it at a bar in Denver with some friends, since I will be in the city for a conference anyway. It should be a lot of fun and hopefully they'll keep up their incredible streak. Go Rox! (Yeah, I totally just jumped on the bandwagon).

Musicale Saturday

Was yesterday ever full of musical-ness! First, we went to Boulder High to see their production of Little Shop of Horrors, then I watched Singin' in the Rain while the kids I babysat were sleeping. Wow!

First things first: Little Shop. We saw the understudy performance, which I thought was really cool that they had, since normally understudies just have to work really hard then never have anything to show for it. And if these were the understudies, the regulars must have been amazing! It was much, much better than my high school musicals ever were, in every aspect. The theater was an actual theater, with a proscenium, balcony seating and everything. The actors could really sing AND carry a New York accent through the entire show without sounding ridiculous, and the sets were more than just cardboard cutouts. It was a highly enjoyable time and I'd like to go see more of their productions; cheaper than Broadway! They also do interesting shows. Last year, I saw the ads that they were doing Urinetown. What other high school would do that?

Singin' in the Rain was, as usual, wonderful. I've probably seen it more than any other movie by now, and it never gets old. I was reminded yet again how full of linguistic stuff it is. Maybe someday I'll do a linguistic deconstruction of it. In the meantime, go see it if you haven't already!

Building Mysteries*

Sometimes you can be in a building every day for years and never notice something. Or see something, but never investigate it. I work in the library three days a week and have worked here for the past year and a half. There is a stairwell I need to go up in order to use the bathroom (so, I go up a lot), and for a year, I never realized that I could go *down* as well. There is a mysterious bottom floor that I not only never knew about, but never even saw until this year. Even though I've now noticed it, I still haven't gone down to investigate. I don't think there's actually anything down there, but who knows?

In the other building I live in, the one my other job is housed in and where I have all my classes, there is a mysterious *top* floor. No one ever mentions this floor, only one staircase goes all the way up there and I have no idea what's up there. I know there are windows because I can sometimes see light. I think I almost prefer not knowing because the reality will be much more prosaic than my imaginings of an airy, open floor with plenty of windows and maybe some romantic, ancients chests to go through. You know, an attic. Maybe that's actually where they chain up the PhD students toiling away at their dissertations. I think that's more likely.

*With apologies to Sarah McLachlan

Coolest Idea Ever

Want to make a difference, but don't have a lot of dough? Think something needs to be done to help our kids in school learn, but aren't sure what to do? Like to know *exactly* where your money is going? Check out Donors Choose, which lets you looks at proposals teachers have submitted for funding to help their kids learn. They range from things like desks and chairs for kids behind the curve in writing (they are currently meeting in a hallway), to buying copies of books so that each student can have one to take home, to providing fishtanks for a science classroom. All the specifics are there, from % poverty of the school, how many students will be impacted, if the materials purchased will be used for future students, what school, basically, all the details you could want as a potential benefactor. It's tax deductible, vetted by the company (really, who would go through all this effort to scam $300 anyway?) and you even get thank you notes at the end. I think the nicest touch is that the site provides the teacher with disposable cameras and your contact info, so you can get a really personal thank you. And you can just contribute towards a project too! Definitely check it out, and not just because all of our family members (and soon to be us too!) are in the education "business."

Loving Sunday, Dreading Monday

Man, Sundays are great. Especially when you take the time to truly have a day of rest (seriously, I think all those religious traditions are onto something!). Peter and I both had naps today, though at different times. I have spoken before about my passion for naps, and today was a wonderful example of why. Drowsy afternoon, full belly from lunch, sunny but with a chill in the air and no appointments to make. Wonderful!

We went to the wedding of a friend of mine from school yesterday in Colorado Springs. It was the first time we had been there, but it probably won't be the last. It's actually a lot closer than we thought! Another good thing that happened yesterday: The Buffs WON! Amazing. I keep thinking about those of little faith, the scoffers and the disbelievers who didn't want to give
Coach Hawkins a chance. I hope they are changing their tune now! My family has followed him for several years now, since he was at Boise State, because one of my high school classmates from Reno went and played for him up there. He took that team from exactly the kind of fame Idaho has always had, and brought them to the national spotlight with the Fiesta Bowl game last year (even if he wasn't actually the coach, it was his recruits and his former coaching staff).

You could see the spirit even last year. I don't really know sports, I will admit, but even at some of the games last year, it just seemed like if we only had a little more time, we could have made a great comeback. The momentum would shift late in the game, but never soon enough to win. This game, I guess we managed to get *just* enough time to make that amazing field goal with seconds to spare. Now if we can just keep pushing that margin of time back, that would be great!

Well, Monday's less than an hour away now, which makes me sad and excited for next weekend already. I'm just so tired of constantly going with no breaks. Even a lunch hour would be heavenly. I don't know what I would do with all that time. In the meantime, I should probably look at my work for tomorrow and make sure I didn't miss something huge. Merry October too!

Bedtime

My contacts are dry, I'm making up excuses to surf the web, I'm avoiding studying, and I'm not at all tired. It must be time to go to bed.

At the Game

Savoring the feeling of winning. It may not last long.

Snuggling

We put the down comforter back on the bed last night. It was very hard to get out of bed this morning.

Still here

Sorry for the lack of posts, everyone. We had a very social weekend with a wedding shower of Friday (fun!) and house guests Friday through Sunday (also fun!). But the combo meant that free time was spent working on homework and assignments, so, it was not actually free time.

Exciting things:
We went to the football game on Saturday and roasted in the sun but CU won overwhelmingly, and winning is very fun, especially when last two games and last season were not-so-hot. The best part is that a lot of the good plays were made by freshman, so that really shows the rebuilding process is in full swing. Why I love our new coach: ""We've won four games in two years so we're just trying to win a football game against anybody," Hawkins said."

Picture from the game (in the student section with two of the girls in my program):

Weather was CRAZY today! Woke up to buckets of rain pouring down, complete with thunder and lightning. At 6:30 AM people! This simply does not happen here. Rain, especially accompanied by thunder, comes at 3 PM in August. That is it. Even crazier is that it rained all day. Not as heavy as the morning, but steady and more than a drizzle most of the time. They are saying we'll be above our average for the month already just after today. Crazy style, but good.

Sentimentality done right

Man, I don't think there was a better time for movies that tugged at your heartstrings than the 1940s era. We just finished "Goodbye, Mr. Chips" (from 1939, but close enough), and holy cow! Very sentimental, but sentimental done right. One of my other favs is "Mrs. Minniver," which was about England during WWII. The first time I saw it, I only saw the last ten minutes, but I was sobbing during the last scene, even though I had no idea who anyone was. I would highly recommend id it, even if you only watch the last ten minutes.

Best Cookie Ever

I just made a batch of meringues for an upcoming shower. O. M. G. Very good, very easy, and very not-bad-for-you! Just two egg whites, 1/4 tsp cream of tartar and a little salt, beat until stiff peaks form (the tip stands up straight when you pull the beater out), then add 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract and/or fold in your favorite flavoring or nuts/chocolate chips/mint chips/etc., plop them on a parchment- or foil-lined cookie sheet or two and stick in the over at 200 degrees for an hour and a half. Then, the best part? Turn off the heat and leave them there. Go to sleep, go shopping, whatever. They don't go from gooey to burnt in half a second, there's no rush to rescue them at the perfect moment, they're fine. And oh so delicious! And since there's pretty much nothing in them (except sugar), they're practically health food! I made them with some mint chips that ruin chocolate chip cookie recipes, so they have been abandoned in our closet for quite some time. I chopped them up, folded them in just before putting them in the oven and... heaven! I need to stop eating them so there will be some left for the party. But I can always make more! I think the very best part is that the altitude doesn't seem to affect them at all. Score!

PS If you want them to look pretty like at the store, you'll need a pastry bag and a pretty tip. If you plop them on like I did, they will look exactly like you plop them (no expanding or anything). Not pretty, but tasty!

An Open Letter

Dear Summer,

I am sorry I took you for granted. I spent your hot days seeking air conditioning and your pleasant nights inside avoiding the mosquitoes (West Nile, you know). I avoided the sun by slathering on sunblock, wearing hats and seeking the shade when I was outside. I should have spent at least one afternoon reading in the shade of a large tree on a grassy lawn somewhere, but I was always too busy working. I'm sorry. If you promise to come back for an encore, I will to my utmost to make the most of the sun and warmth you provide. Now that fall abruptly arrived this morning with low clouds and a high of 60, I realize my mistake.

Thank you,
Your summer child